Printing-cylinder.



Patented Aug. I4, |900.

. w.,w. RUSSELL.

PRINTING CYLINDER.

(Application led Jan. 2, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l (No Model.)

No. 655,802. Patented Aug. I4, I90Il.

w. w. RUSSELL. PRINTING CYLINDER.

(Appliation tiled Jan. 2. 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2-.

mwwrjf@ 7 @MJA/Z m 7 wyd@ nume PATENT rrrcn.

WILLIS W. RUSSELL, OF AMSTERDAM, NE7 YORK.y

PRINTING-CYLINDER.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 655,802, dated August 14, 19O. Application iiled January 2, 1900. Serial No. 108. (No model.)

To @ZZ wir/0711, t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WILLIs W. RUSSELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Amsterdam, Montgomery county, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Printing-Cylinder; and I do declare that the following is a description thereof sufficiently clear, full, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference numerals marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to printing-presses, and particularly to that part thereof which concerns the arrangement and adjustment of the printing face or form and the means whereby the same is held in position. It furthermore concerns only such printing faces or forms as are carried by printing-cylinders, around the surface of which they are disposed and to which they are secured, said printing-cylinders being rotated so as to bring successively all parts of their surface, being the printing-face, in Contact with the paper passing between them and another cylindrical surface in the shape of a bed-roller or platen, whereby such paper receives the impression which the printing-cylinder transfers thereto. These printing faces or forms consist of sheets or plates of metal, like zinc, type-metal, stereotype metal, electrotypes, thc., which plates carry the impression, engraved or otherwise imparted, and which are curved around the printingcylinder and secured'to the face thereof. In one construction as at present in use it is necessary that the printing-plate be so large as to reach entirely around the printing-cylinder in order to permit its ends to be secured to iiXedly-located fastening devices, this irrespective of Whether the actual size of the type or impression re-` quires such a large expanse of plate or not. If any part of such a large printing-plate becomes damaged or loses its proper position by becoming stretched or warped, the whole must be removed, even if otherwise in good condition. If the thickness of a plate or the character of the metal is such as to lack suiiicientelasticity or flexibility to permit its removal from the cylinder by opening and springing it off therefrom, such printingcyl= inder must be bodily removed from the press'- frame to permit such sheet to be removed endwise, attachment or exchange of sheets under such conditions requiring, of course, the 'same procedure.

, In multicolor-printing, where several printing-cylinders Work in conjunction and supplementary to each other, each supplying only a .portion or one color of the whole impression, perfect register and coincidence of the several colors separately printed are of prime necessity. This accuracy is only obtainable by means of a range of delicate adjustments, permitting variations and changes of positions tothe most minute degree,notonly of all of the printing-plates on one cylinder with reference to each other on the same cyl` inder, but also in multicolor-printing with reference to the printing-plates on the other cylinders, and, finally, also with reference to the working parts of the press and the impression -cylinder on which the materiall (paper) is carried.

To this end my invention comprises 'means vwhereby such printing-plates may be secured to a printing-cylinder, the construction being such that they may cover all or only a part ofthe surface of the printing-cylinder and do not have to be of such a size as to completely cover the entire circumference of the printing-cylinder. This feature of my at-A taching means enables me to cut up and subdivide the printing or type face in smaller portions, each of which portions may be independently attached or removed when change in position of any certain portion or entire removal of it is required on account of damage or for any other reason, which adjustment or removal of such limited portion may be accomplished Without affecting the rest of the"` surface. These type-faces after being so subdivided enable me also to use heavier metal for them, since these separate portions or patches, covering circumferentially only a part of the cylinder-surface, do not have to be curved or bent around the entire cylinder when placed in position or removed. For such reason also,

such piecesbeing placed simply against aj particular part of the face of the cylinder, their attachment or removal may be accomplished with the cylinder in position and obviating the removal of the latter from thev press-frame to slip them off endwise or to spring them over the diameter-of the cylinder. In addition to this feature of the fastening means, which permits universal and independent attachment or removal of the type-forms as a whole or of any number of their component parts without disturbing the proper curve of the printing-plates, these means are, furthermore, of such a character as to permit also adjustment longitudinally as well as circumferentially of each printingplate without disturbingV the others. y The aforesaid adjustment being all local and affecting only the parts intended, it is not necessary to remove, change, or adjust any other parts of the press.

In general, I may state that my invention is applicable wherever the printing is done from a rotary printing impression-cylinder doing plain single lor multi color work either on a sheet-rotary or a web-rotary printingpress.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, is found a full description of 'myinvention, together with its operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a perspective view of a printing-roller embodying one of the features 0f my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same. trats another feature of myinven tion. These two figures are double the size of Fig. 1. Fig. tis an enlarged edge view of one of the adjus-table sections, showing the manner of connecting the anged edge of the printing-plate thereto. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 4E. Figs. 6 and 7 in views similar to the precedingones showa modified construction of the features shown therein. Fig. S in a view similar to Fig. 2 shows a modified construction for connecting the printing-plate to the adjustable sect-ions of the printing-roller.

The printing-cylinders consist, first, of a core 11, provided with journals 12 .at each end, which rest in bearings on the printingpress frame. (Not shown.) In a multicolorpress a sufficient number of them are provided, all operating in conjunction with each other and with a rotary platen 13, all being positively .rotated and all being adjustable with reference to each other and with reference to the platen. The construction and arrangement of these parts, however, form no part of my invention. The surface or bed upon which the plate 14, carrying the impression, rests and to which it is attached consists of a number of sections 1 5, all lfitted against the face of the core and held thereon in a manner which leaves them free to be moved circumferentially. A preferable construction to so hold them is by screws 16, which pass through them and enter blocks 17, occupying circumferential and undercut grooves 18. I propose to use by preference Fig. 3 inan end view illusnot less than four sections, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which number may be increased, as shown in Figs. 3 and S. The printing-plate is flanged in the usual way, the lianges 19 being secured to the edgesof sections 15, after which these latter are spread by means of a wedge 2l, inserted between two of these sections, and whereby the printing plate is tightened. This wedge is held in place by means of a dovetail connection 22, its movement for adjusting, to tighten or loosen it, being by means of a screw 23: v

In the form shown in Figs. l and 2 I use four sections and two wedges diametrically opposite each other, these latter operating each in conjunction with two sections, one oneach side of them. A roller so fitted out is particularly well adapted for use in connection with web rotary presses, having the additional advantage of not requiring a printing-plate of a size sufficient to entirely encircle the face of the roller, yet having the entire surface of it covered. The plates in this case being each about half-circular may be conveniently placed, attached to, or removed from the side of the roller. 3 and 8, the sections are still more subdivided, there being a greater number of reduced width operating in conjunction with one wedge interposed between two of them for the purpose of tightening the printing-plate. This form permits the use 'of plates of any length (circumferentially considered) and between extreme limits of course-that is, not larger than the circumference of the roller nor less than sufficient to reach from the section next to the wedge on one side to the-first section on the other side. For these reasons this form is best adapted for use in connection with sheet rotary presses.

For holding the printing-plates in position I provide dowel-pins 2t at the edge of the sections, which enter openings provided in the flanges 19 of printing-plates 14E. After being so engaged the sections are spread by means of the wedge, whereby the printing-plate is tightly held in position, as may be readily undei-stood. rIhe sections being held to the core in the manner explained readily yield to the action of the Wedge. Instead of using dowelpins the printing-plate may be simply nailed or screwed to the face of the rollers-that is, to the sections thereat, as shown in Fig. 8-- for which purpose preferably each second one is of wood or soft metal,like type-metal. In this case the printing plates require no flanges.

Perfect adjustment or justification especially in multicolor printing is of course of foremost importance. Longitudinally-that is, circumferentially as to the printing-roller- I obtain it by the use of plates or washers 25, which may be of various thicknesses and are inserted underneath the flangeslQ and between them and the edges of the sections, being carried. on the dowel-pins. Laterally the adjustment is by having the dowel-pins mov- As shown in Figs.

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able along the edge of the sections. For such purpose a base 26 is provided, upon which a number or only one dowel-pin is supported. I prefer to have each dowel-pin independently mounted on its own base, as permitting a greater range ot' adjustment and also rendering this latter more convenient. Each of these bases is tted into a groove 27 in the edges of sections l5 and provided with a slot 2S, through which a screw 29 passes, entering a hole 3l in the bottom of groove 27, whereby the base, with its pin, is held in place, lateral adjustment being had to the ex- V tent of the length of slot 2S. It is preferable to provide these grooves 27 on both edges of each narrow section 15, thus permitting the attachment of dowel-pins on either side, as expediency may require. At the same time these grooves provide the necessary clearance for the dowel-pins when the sections are close together. Instead of holding the dowel-pins in the manner described their bases might be dovetailed into groove 27, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and held by t-he end pressure of a screw 32. Spacers or printers leads 33 may be interposed between the different pins for their adjustment.

As willbe seen, by the use of my invention it becomes unnecessary to use printing-plates encircling the rollers entirely, thus obviating the objectionable necessity of engraving, for instance, larger plates than the subject would otherwise require. It further permits me to use a number of printing-plates side by side,

it being possible to connect each independently and at different points of the circumference of the roller by the provision I have made for such purpose. It finally permits me to adjust the printing-plates as a whole or any part thereof independently, if in sections, either longitudinally--that is, circumferentially-or laterally, either at once in both directions or only in either one, thus satisfying all requirements which may be made in this direction.

Having described my invention, I claim as newl. In a printing-roller the combination of a core, a number of comparatively-narrow surface-sections adjustably secured thereto to support the printing-plate,dowel-pins projecting from one of the edges of each section,

to receivei'the perforated flanged edges of the printing-plate for the purpose of holding the same in position, such attachment adapted to be made between any two sections and at any point of the circumference of the roller, according to the length of the printing-plates and a wedge adapted to be inserted between two sections for the purpose of tightening the sections between the edges of the printingplates.

2. In a printing-roller, the combination of a core, circumferentially-adjustable surfacesections supported thereon, semicircular printing-plates supported on these surfacesections,dowel-pins at their ou ter edges whereby the printing-plates are held in position and two wedges diametrically opposite each other and one each between the edges of one of the semicircular printing-plates.

3. In a printing-roller the combination of a core, surface -sections tted thereto upon which the printing-plate is to be supported and pins projecting from the edge of these sections adapted to engage and hold the printing-plates in position, said pins being adjustably connected to the sections.

4t. In a printing-roller, the combination of a core, surface-sections fitted thereto upon which the printing-plate is to be supported, pins projecting from the edge of these sections adapted to engage and hold the printing-plates in position, said pins being each mounted upon a base, a groove in one edge of each section into which these bases are fitted in a manner to be laterally adjustable in this groove and means to hold these bases in their adjusted position.

In a printing-roller, the combination of a core, surface sections fitted thereto upon which the printing-plate is to`be supported, pins projecting from the edge of these sections adapted to engage and hold `the printing-plates in position, said pins being each mounted upon a base, a dovetailed groove into which these bases are fitted in a manner to be laterally movable therein, spacers to adjust the distance between them and a screw engaging them endwise to hold the entire row laterally in position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set myV hand in presence of two witnesses.

dWILLIS W. RUSSELL.

`Witnesses1 T. I-I. BENTON CRANE, GALEN E. WrLooX.

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